Gem setting with filling means between the gem and the seat therefor



July 31, 1956 R YEAGER 2,756,572

GEM SETT WITH FILLING ME BETWEEN THE GEM AND THE SEAT THEREFOR Filed Sept. 8, 1954 [liq/0111111111141 0 IN V EN TORS (/arence Roberf Yeager- Hem- AA/jve/z w w /7 AB By fimw ran/M ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent GEM'SETTIN G WITH FILLING MEANS BETWEEN THE GEM AND THE SEAT THEREFOR Clarence Robert Yeager, North Attleboro, and Henry A. Niven, Norton, Mass., assignors to L. G. Balfour Company, a corporation of Massachusetts Application September 8, 1954, Serial No. 454,762

2 Claims. or. 63-26) This invention is a continuation in part of our co-pending application Serial No. 342,042, filed March 13, 1953, now abandoned, and relates to the mounting of a metallic ornament on a gem and the mounting of the gem in an article of jewelry, more particularly a finger ring.

Gems such as stones and the like are frequently used as an ornamental top of a finger ring. In some cases an opening extends completely through the article and the gem is mounted in this opening, leaving its back open or exposed. In some cases a member such as a metallic crest or the like is mounted on the top of thegem by means of soldering tubular pegs on the back of the memher, which pegs pass through the gem with their ends spread over Washers on the back of the gem. This fastening is also exposed in the open back type of gem mounting. Dirt or dust accumulates in the recess in back of the gem and is difiicult to remove by reason of the recessed back making it diflicult to get at. In some cases a metal back closes the back of the gem mounting and tends to prevent dirt or dust from accumulating over the back of the gem. In most cases the open back gem mounting is desirable, as it permits light to pass through the gem, which is usually a stone and transparent or translucent, and thus enhances the appearance of the gem.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a gem mounting of the open back type which will permit light to pass through the gem and at the same time provide a seal against dirt or accumulation of foreign matter on the back surface of the gem or in and about any fastening which may be there located for the securing of an ornamental member, such as a crest, in position on the outer surface of the gem.

Another object of the invention is to provide a more secure fastening of the member on the gem by blocking releasing movement of portions of the pegs which hold the member on the gem.

Another object of this invention is to make this filling material transparent or translucent so that light may pass through the gem as well as provide a seal for the gem.

Another object of this invention is to provide a translucent or transparent filling material which will be of substantially the same color as the gem which is used so as to in a large measure hide any fastening means and to at the same time enhance the color appearance of the gem by reason of backing the same up with substantially the same color as the natural color of the gem.

Another object of the invention is to provide a smoother surface for the back of the jewelry article, which is particularly desirable in a finger ring where the back is in intimate contact with the finger.

Another object of the invention is to provide a better supported gem or stone.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cushion support for the gem or stone that there may be some resilience to absorb shock.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction as will taken substantially along line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 4-4 of Figure 2 and drawn to the same scale as that of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal central sectional View of the gem with the ornament attached thereto;

Figure 6 is an exploded view of the gem and ornament of Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view on a greatly enlarged scale showing the plastic entering a void between the stone and the shoulder of the bezel.

In proceeding with this invention, a crest, initial, or other member is mounted on the gem by means of pegs soldered to the member passing through the gem where they are backed up with a washer and the pegs being headedover the Washer to secure the member in place. We then set the gem in the finger ring or other article of jewelry in the usual manner, the settingfor the stone being provided by a hole through the top of the ring or other ornamental article of jewelry. We complete this setting by flowing into the tubular pegs and the recess in the back of the gem which is not completely filled by the gem a plastic material such for instance as methyl methacrylate or any other resin which may be softened and caused to fill a void and will thereafter harden upon cooling or evaporation of the solvent which may be used for plasticizing the same. This resin by filling theirriveted ends prevents collapse of the pegs for their release and the resin also supports the gem throughout its extent.

The invention is shown embodied in an article of jewelry in the form of a finger ring which is illustrated more or less conventionally. The ring comprises the usual body or shank portion 10 having a flat surface 11 in which there is provided an opening 12 therethrough. A base or bezel 13 is secured to the surface 11 in a known manner and has an opening 14 therethrough, the walls of which extend in continuation with the walls of opening 12. The upper part of opening 14 is recessed or enlarged as at 14' and provides a ledge or shoulder 15 about the opening 14. Thus, there is formed an open setting in which a gem 16 or the like may be inserted to rest upon the shoulder 15.

The gem 16 in the present instance has a generally flat bottom side 17 (Fig. 6) and is provided with spaced openings 18 therethrough. Preferably the edges of the gem are beveled as at 19. The metal ornament 20 (see Figure 6) which may have any desired configuration is shown as being rectangular and is provided with hollow or tubular pegs 21 depending from the bottom side thereof. These pegs are of a size and spaced to correspond to the size and spacing of openings 18. The gem 16 and ornament 20 in accordance with the invention are assembled together (see Figure 5) by positioning the ornament 20 on the face of the gem 16 with the pegs 21 projecting through openings 18. The pegs extend a substantial distance beyond the gem. Washers 22 are placed over the pegs and the projecting end portions are headed over the Washers 23 by spreading as at 21' to rivet the metallic member or ornament 20 in position on the gem. The gem 16 is usually inserted in the base or bezel 13 to rest the bottom side 17 of the gem upon the shoulder 15 prior to assembly of the ornament thereon but the ornament may be assembled after setting if desired. The upper marginal edges 23 of the bezel 13 are turned inwardly toengage the b'eveledges 19of' the gem to secure the gem between the said shoulder 1-5 and the turned edges 23. Frequently, because of irregularities, some void exists between the stone and the shoulder as at 24 (see Figure 7-).

The void or opening at the rear of'thegemisfilled with a resin material 25, suchzforinstance asmethyl rnethacrylate or other-suitable resin which may pass light. This resin is softened to such an extent-that-it maybe-flowed into the said opening to fillthe hollow tubularpegs 21 and embed the heads 21' of the pegs 21 and also fill the void 24-as at '24 Figure' 7-). The resin fill is shaped along its =exposed=surface as -at'26 so as-to extend in continuation with the adjacent surface-portions of the shank I0 and-provide 'a generallyflush continuous surface for engagement with the finger for comfort in wearing the ring. The hollow-pegs fil 'bein-g filled-are wellsupported and their heads 21 are thus embedded in and also supported by the-resin whichcooperates with the pegs to prevent their coming loose. The gem is also better supported throughout'its-entire surface and the fill at 24' provides -a-cushion support for the :stone.

The plastic material 225 which is-used may be of -a color so as=-to-'correspondto 'the colorof thegem 16. Thus, this transparent or transluoentplastic material by -reason"of.its'colorsets'ofi and enhances-the stone-or gem'which'isused and greatly increases the brilliance thereof. "Likewiseby -filling of the opening at the back of the gemand providing=a--smooth surface, dirt or foreign matter which usually=collects in this opening or void is prevented from doi-ng-so, making it unnecessary to-at- 'ternptto clean'the ringand also providing a much-cleaner ring,'thus-tending-topreventirritation of the skin, .maintaining its= greater br'il-liance without cleaning effort and yet retaining all of the-advantages of-theopen back -gem setting 'as'wellas the-advantages of theclosed-back-setting. As the plastic material fills a-ll of the crevices and voids, even the irregularities between the stone and the shoulder on which it seats, dirt is kept out and a better support for the stone results.

By the term gem used in the specification we include any natural stone or artificial stone or any insert member which may be set into an open setting in a jewelry article.

We claim:

1. An article of jewelry comprising a body having a stone receiving recess .in one surface thereof provided with a bott-orn wall and a hole of a lesser area than the bottom wall extending from the bottom wall through the body andleavin-g said bottom walllas a shoulder onwhich a stone may rest, a stone engaging said bottom wall at spaced points 'due'to an uneven surface on the stone'leaving LHQ FQQQ XlQ R-g r rt n b ween t t and b tom wall at other locations, portions of the edge of said recess extending over the stone to hold it on said bottom wall, and a solid non-metallic material of such a character as to have been fiowable filling substantially the hole and the non-contacting locations between the stone ia-nd'bottom-twall to therebysupport the stone against erackingiby a blow or pressure from the outer side .of

the-stone 2 toward the bottom wall.

2. An.-article-as in claim 1 wherein ,the non-metallic material-is :of substantially the same color as the stone.

iReferencesCited in the file of this patent "UNITED STATES PATENTS 

